Fluid Dynamics ─ An Introduction

This book is dedicated to readers who want to learn fluid dynamics from the beginning. It assumes a basic level of mathematics knowledge that would correspond to that of most second-year undergraduate physics students and examines fluid dynamics from a physicist’s perspective. As such, the examples used primarily come from our environment on Earth and, where possible, from astrophysics. The text is arranged in a progressive and educational format, aimed at leading readers from the simplest basics to more complex matters like turbulence and magnetohydrodynamics. Exercises at the end of each chapter help readers to test their understanding of the subject (solutions are provided at the end of the book), and a special chapter is devoted to introducing selected aspects of mathematics that beginners may not be familiar with, so as to make the book self-contained.

Born in 1960, Michel Rieutord was student of the Ecole Normale Superieure de Saint-Cloud from 1980 to 1985. He made studies in theoretical physics and his PhD thesis on “Tidal heating in close low mass binaries” at Paris-Meudon observatory (1987). He was assistant professor in ISAS (Italy), ATER at Toulouse 3 University, Maitre de Conferences at Toulouse 3 University and professor at Toulouse 3 University. Since 2013, he is “professeur de classe exceptionnelle”. Rieutords research subject is Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics. More specifically he is interested in the effects of rotation, turbulence and magnetic fields in stars (including the Sun), planets and accretion discs. He was the author or co-author of more than 130 papers in international journals and conference books. Rieutord has been teaching physics for undergraduates, fluid mechanics and astrophysics at all levels. He was Junior member of the Institut Universitaire de France and won the Cray Price with L. Valdettaro and B. Dintrans in Italy, 1998 and the Price E. Dechelle from the French Academy of Sciences in October 2003.